Wozniacki, Venus advance to set up Auckland showdown

AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki and the evergreen Venus Williams won their semi-finals at the Auckland Classic on Friday to set up a final showdown between two former world number ones.

Wozniacki advanced to her 38th WTA career final with a hard-fought 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

Then Williams, showing few signs of slowing down at the age of 34, joined her in Saturday's title match with a 6-0 6-3 win romp over fellow American Lauren Davis.

For Williams, who lost last year's Auckland final to Ana Ivanovic, it marks her 76th appearance in a final. Already the sixth oldest woman to claim a title after she won in Dubai last year, if she wins she will become the fourth oldest champion.

Williams did suffer a minor hiccup against Davis. After winning the first seven games on the trot, she dropped three of the next four to trail 3-2 in the second, before reeling off the last four to wrap up victory.

The American has won all five of her previous meetings with Wozniacki but the Dane, who has hit a purple patch of form since reaching last year's U.S. Open final, was hopeful of ending her drought.